2023 Healthy Bucks program at the Lebanon Farmers Market serves a record number of kids!

RECORD 1,122 Youth & 143 Seniors Served!

RECORD $5,788 Paid to Farmers!
We are thrilled to report the success from the 2023 Healthy Bucks program with the Town of Lebanon Farmers Market sponsored by Molina Health of Virginia. The program ran on Wednesdays during the schools summer break from June 7 to August 9. During this time, the Russell County Health Coalition provided Healthy Bucks to 628 summer school students from six Russell County Public Schools and 494 children who visited the Farmers Market with their parents and grandparents, totaling 1,122 youth, a new program record. The Health Coalition also hosted a Senior Day with the Lebanon Farmers Market on August 23 and provided Healthy Bucks to 143 adults 55+. Ten Coalition partners and health vendors also set up booths at the Market on Senior Day to provide resources and information.
In total, $5,788 were paid out to 22 local farmers and producers through the Russell County Health Coalition Healthy Bucks program in 2023. Ten Coalition volunteers contributed 192 hours of community service through the program.
Our deepest appreciation goes out to our Coalition volunteers and program coordinator Dustin Keith, the Market farmers & producers, Market Manager Tammy Lasley, and our Healthy Bucks sponsor Molina Healthcare of Virginia & Community Engagement Specialist Jennifer Jolliffe, without whom this program would not have been possible. Thanks to the Russell County Prevention Coalition & Cumberland Mountain Community Services for providing suicide prevention tote bags that youth could use for their produce. We also want to thank the summer school teachers and the parents & grandparents who brought kids to the Farmers Market to learn about the importance of eating local and fresh fruits & vegetables and encourage them to make positive, healthy lifestyle choices.

Overview

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Healthy Bucks empowers kids to make smart, health choices about what foods they eat and where they come from! Since 2016, the Russell County Health Coalition has sponsored a Healthy Kids Bucks program in partnership with the Town of Lebanon Farmers Market. Children aged 0-17 and their parents/guardians can visit the Health Coalition stall at the Lebanon Farmers Market on Wednesdays & Saturdays in the summer, receive information about the program and healthy recipes incorporating produce available at the Market, and leave with 5 Healthy Bucks they can use 1:1 with farmers to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables. The child's name, age, and home zip code are recorded. At the end of the Market day, the farmers then exchange their collected Healthy Bucks with Health Coalition volunteers for cash. 
Follow the Town of Lebanon Farmers Market on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Town-of-Lebanon-Farmers-Market-107033731997259

Proven Results

Healthy Bucks is an evidence-based, PSE (Policy, Systems, & Environmental Change) implementation targeting healthy eating and listed in the SNAP-Ed toolkit. That's all to say that Healthy Bucks are a proven and cost-effective way to get kids to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables and financially support local farmers and markets! Learn more about Healthy Bucks implementation, evidence, and evaluation at snapedtoolkit.org/interventions/programs/health-bucks/

2022 Success!

1,049 Children Served!

$5,245 Paid to Farmers!

2021 Success!

630 Children Served!

$3,150 Paid to Farmers!

Average age of children served: 8 years old

Check us out on the news! Click the photo to view WCYB Olivia Bailey's story on Healthy Bucks!

2020 Success!

Even in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and with strict policies in place to limit viral spread, the Russell County Health Coalition continued to give out Healthy Bucks in 2020! Seven volunteers worked 29 market days, donating approximately 225 service hours, to provide 383 children across 19 zip codes with Russell County Healthy Bucks, and $1,915 was paid directly to Russell County farmers and producers for their fresh fruits and vegetables through our local market!

383 Children Served!

$1,915 Paid to Farmers!

Average age of children served: 7 years old

2019 Photos!

2018 Photos!

Volunteers & Financial Partners

Healthy Bucks would not be possible without amazing and committed volunteers and financial backers! Thanks especially to Molina Health of Virginia for sponsoring our Healthy Bucks program in 2022 & 2023!
Coalition President Dustin Keith is the primary contact for the program in 2023. Thanks to lead volunteers Aaron Owens & Bee Stuart for all their work and dedication to Healthy Bucks!
Funds for Healthy Bucks come from the Health Coalition and donors, including Molina Health of Virginia, Ballad Health, the Town of Lebanon, and the Lebanon Farmers Market.